Shimano XC7 SPD shoes

Not long ago we tested the Shimano RC7 road shoe and found it to be excellent. Now we've got hold of the XC7 mountain bike shoe at the same level, and you'll never guess what: this one is excellent too. It's roadie-looking enough for the tarmac with enough versatility for the dirt too; cyclo-cross, gravel riding and mountain biking are all within its remit. As such, it's almost one shoe to rule them all. You can pretty much do anything with these.

At first glance you might be forgiven for thinking the XC7s are a road shoe: with a Boa closure and an unfussy, shiny upper they have a pretty racy look. Unlike the RC7s, which have a very stiff full-carbon sole, the XC7s have a carbon-reinforced midsole that's a bit more forgiving. That means if you're off the bike jumping the hurdles in a cyclo-cross race or pushing up an off-road climb that's defeated you, there's enough flex to make walking feel pretty normal.

There's a full Michelin rubber outsole, too, to aid off-bike grip, and you can fit two studs at the front for extra grip. The SPD cleat is recessed enough into the sole that you get plenty of purchase from the rubber on cafe floors, although the XC7s are still a bit click-clacky.

These shoes are really, really comfortable. Shimano has recently changed the last it uses to make its shoes, and whatever it's done has worked: the XC7s have proved to be fantastic from the off. Shimano used to offer custom fit at this level, but I haven't missed it: the synthetic leather outer is just right out of the box.

I completed the 200km Dirty Reiver gravel ride in these (10 hours' riding time) and a 300km ride to the coast and back (over 12 hours in the saddle) and foot comfort was never an issue. With the more flexible sole and the smaller contact area of the SPD system over road cleats there was always the possibility of pressure hotspots, but I never had any problems with these shoes and for the time off the bike they're much more practical than full-fat road shoes.

In hot weather the large mesh vent at the front does a good job of keeping your feet ventilated; when it's wet or cold you'll want to fit a neoprene toe cover as cold air and water get in very easily there. Foot retention is good, with the Boa SP1 wire system easy to adjust, and Shimano uses a cat's tongue fabric on the heel cup to prevent ankle lift.

Most of the time these XC7s are indistinguishable from a mid-range road shoe. At 796g the pair (size 48) they weigh about 200g more than the RC7s we had in the same size, but they're hardly heavy, and functionally you only notice the extra flex when you're really going after it. At the same time they're easier to walk in, look good, and can be worn for your off-road pursuits too.

When SPD shoes are this good, there's a decent argument for just wearing them all the time. Get yourself some single-sided road SPDs like Shimano's A520 for your road bike, and double-sided ones for your 'crosser, or commute bike, or mountain bike, or gravel bike, or whatever. Okay, if you're racing you'll probably want something a bit stiffer (and lighter), but for most types of riding these are just the ticket: well made, comfortable and versatile.

Verdict

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Shimano XC7 SPD shoes

Size tested: 48

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Shimano says: "The XC series is designed from the ground up for cross-country and cyclocross performance. Designed with an ultra-rigid, lightweight carbon fiber reinforced midsole and a supple high-density synthetic leather upper, the new XC7 delivers race-ready pedaling efficiency and all-day comfort.

"The Boa IP1 dials allow a highlytunable fit and the Boa Powerzone wire guide is adjustable to help maintain consistent tension along the top of the foot. Boosting performance on and off the bike, the XC7 features an exclusive outsole designed in collaboration with Michelin. The full-length dual-density rubber construction increases grip and durability and the tread pattern is specifically designed for mudshedding, helping to maintain lightweight performance even in adverse conditions."

Dave is a founding father of road.cc and responsible for kicking the server when it breaks. In a previous life he was a graphic designer but he's also a three-time Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling world champion, and remains unbeaten through the bog. Dave rides all sorts of bikes but tends to prefer metal ones. He's getting old is why.

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rjfrussell[521 posts]1 year ago

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As a matter of interest- why do you suggest single sided spds for the road bike rather than double sided?

As a confirmed 2-bolt roady, I'd advise not choosing shoes because they have a bit of flex so they're easier to walk in. You need that far less than nice stiff soles that offer a more solid platform to cycle on*.

I also recommend double sided pedals, having started on single siders. Much easier*.

I just wish Shimano would sort out their shoe sizing. You can buy nominally the same size of three different pairs in their range, and one could be too roomy, another painfully small, and the third a perfect fit.

I use speedplay zero's on my road bike, and speedplay frogs on my adventure bike. I'm really starting to wonder why use road pedals/shoes at all rather than just using 2-bolt style pedals/shoes (frogs in my case) on both bikes.

Yes, I have 3 pair of Shimano Road shoes all size 47. The XC7s size 47 are slightly smaller so I had to return them and get 48s.

handlebarcam wrote:

I just wish Shimano would sort out their shoe sizing. You can buy nominally the same size of three different pairs in their range, and one could be too roomy, another painfully small, and the third a perfect fit.

I purchased these in january for the TCR. Initially worked ok but when the temperatures started to rise from May onwards I started to get horrendous hot feet despite plenty of room in the shoe. Would also disagree on the fit, which for me is too straight and not very foot shaped.

I switched to Lake MX237's which are a bit heavier but much more comfortable for me, with a better fit, material and construction.

*NB apologies for the non-technical description - on the way home from completing TCRNo5 and my head is a bit fuzzy!

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